TYRON WOODLEY: A NEW CONTENDER HAS ARRIVED

Tyron Woodley landing a knee against Galvao at Strikeforce

Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley established his transition from up-and-comer to contender at Saturday night’s Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons II event in San Jose, Calif.

The two-time All American wrestler at the University of Missouri used his grappling defensively, keeping his fight with multiple-time jiu-jitsu world champion Andre Galvao on the feet, not letting the Brazilian into his comfort zone.

Woodley stuffed all of Galvao’s takedown attempts and picked him apart with his boxing. Just past the midway point of the opening round, Woodley rocked Galvao with a right cross.

Galvao tried to shoot again, but was still wobbly. Woodley stuffed the takedown and pounded away with punches until referee Josh Rosenthal stopped the fight.

Woodley, now 7-0 as a professional, worked his way up through the Strikeforce Challengers series, but he knows that the win over Galvao proves that he has arrived, and he’s wasting no time proclaiming what he wants… a title shot.

“I think it’s obvious where I fit. I think I should be up next (against the winner of Nick Diaz and K.J. Noons),” said Woodley.

“I’m gonna sit there with my notebook out and be ready for the title.”